Sash balance



E. H. BROWN July 15, 1952 SASH BALANCE Filed Oct. 50, 1947 INVENTbR.Edward M .B/pwn ATTORNEY.

Patented July 15, 1952 v SASH BALANCE Edward H. Brown, Grand Rapids,Mich., assigncr *to Grand Rapids Hardware Rapids, Mich.

Company, Grand Application October 30, 1947, Serial No. 783,123

This invention relates to improvements in' a sash balance. 7 3

The main objects of this invention arei First, to provide an improvedsash balance including a rotatable element having a spiral track and atorsion member adapted tobe mounted for relative movement in which theClaims. (01. 16-197) parts are very economical to produce-and'r'n'ay beeasily assembled. into the balance and the balance easily and quicklyassembled'in an operative relation to a sash.

Second, to providea sash'balance in which the track element is put underspring torquestress after assembling on the sash or mountingon'the sashand is easily so held. while the sash is being installed in a windowcasing. I Third, to provide a sash balance having the above advantagesin which the mounting brackets are of the drive type as shown in"applicants application filed concurrently herewith, one of the bracketsfunctioning to hold the assembly under torque stress while the sash isbeing assembled in the casing, this holding means being automaticallyfreed when the sash is moved after installation. 3 I

Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention willappear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in theclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in'

which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partially broken away and partially invertical section, illustrating the balance of the invention operativelyassociated with a window sash and its frame, the parts being sectionedona line corresponding to line l-l of Fig. 2. v

Fig. 2' is an enlarged fragmentary Vl8 W in section on a linecorresponding to line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary viewin section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a linecorresponding to line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of one of the brackets of thecoacting parts.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of bracketwhich may be used in lieu of the bracket shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I indicates a windowframe or casing, and 2 the lower window sash. This lower sash has avertical groove or rabbet 3 in its side edge preferably extending fromthe top to bottom thereof. It should be understood that the sash may beequipped with two of the balances and Kill adjusting tool.

that commonly both theupper' and lower sash are equipped with thebalances.

, The tubular element or member 4 in the embodiment illustrated isformed of a strip of metal spirally wound to provide a spiral groove 5'constituting a spiral track. At its lower end the tubular element 4 isprovided with a bushing 6 having ratchet teeth 1 at its inner end, itslower end projecting to provide a journal member 8. The tensioning rod.9 is rotatably mounted in the lower bushing and is provided with aratchet head l0 coacting with the teeth of the bushing. The

'tensioning rod is slotted at H to receive an At its upper end thetubular member 4 is provided with a bushing l2 constituting a bearingfor the anchoring rod 13. The tensioning rod 9 and the anchoring rod 13are provided with terminal portions to which the coil spring [A issecured. I

The bushings are provided with external segof sheet metal rolled uponitself with the edges in abutting engagement at ll, the indenting orupset of the tubular member in the groove as described serving to anchoror secure the bushings and also keeping their edges in abuttingrelation. The anchoring rod [3 is provided with a.

transverse slot H5 at its projecting end, thereby providing'segmentaltangs 19 which engage the segmental slots 29 inthe bracket 2|, therebysupporting the anchoring rod against rotating'movement.

' The other mounting bracket 22 is provided with a bearing opening 23receiving the journal portion of the lower bushing. These brackets areformed of sheet metal stampings and are provided with drive tangs 2t;and 25, respectively, these drive tangs being provided with serratededges 26 being in general the same as those described in my co-pendingapplication.

The head portions thereof are provided with side flanges 21 engaging thesides of the groove 3 illustrated in Fig. 4, the torsion member 29 beingdescribed in my co-pending application and. being provided with afollower lug 3B coacting with the groove-like track as is clearly shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

A rod 3|, preferably non-metallic, is arranged between the tensioningand anchoring rods. This prevents the coils of the spring frominterlocking or overlapping and restricts the spring fromslipping fromside to side under torsional stress.

In the modifications shown in Fig. 6 the bracket 3 32 for the anchoringrod is provided with an arm 33 adapted to be attached to the bottom ofthe groove by means of screws or brads through the holes 34.

To facilitate the mounting of the sash in a casing, the bracket 22 isprovided with a breakable lug 35 which engages the notch 39 in the lowerbushing,- thereby preventing rotating of the tubular member under thetorque stress of the spring which has been properly tensioned after thebrackets 2| and 22 have been driven into the sash, but before the sashis installed in the easing. With the sash installed in the, casing, theparts as shown in Fig. l, the lifting of the sash results in shearingoff the lug, thereby permitting the rotation of the tubular member. Thisis of substantial advantage as sometimes in stalling, a jar such asmight result from dropping or setting down carelessly might result inthe unwinding of the spring. However, that cannot happen when thetubular member is prevented from rotating as by means of the lugs. Thelug is relatively j small and 'is easily sheared off when the sash is.raised as I have'explained.

- "Itshould be noted thatthe bushing 8 should 'beso positioned inrelation to the groove in the tubular element 4 that torsion member arm29 can be placed adjacent the bracket 21 in parallel relation to theside of the sash and to the easing I.

; 'I haveillustrated and described my invention in a highly practicalembodiment thereof. I have -not attempted to illustrate or describeother .adaptations which I contemplate, as it is believed that thisdisclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt myinvention.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters .Patent, is:

1. In a sash'balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular elementhaving a spiral track, an

ing brackets, one bracket being provided with segmental slots alignedwith said anchoring rod tonon-rotatably receive the said tangs of saidanchoring rod, the other bracket being provided .with a bearing openingfor rotatably supporting the end of the tubular element opposite fromsaid anchoring rod, and a torsion member coacting with said track ofsaid tubular element.

2. A sash balance comprising a rotatable tubular element, an anchoringrod constituting a journal for one end of said tubular element, the

outer end of said anchoring rod being provided with a bracket engagingtang, a coiled spring arranged in said tubular member and having itsends connected to said anchoring rod and tubular element, attachingbrackets comprising heads and integral attaching prongs, one of saidbrackets being provided with an opening aligned with said anchoring rodand non-rotatably receiving the tang of said anchoring rod, the otherbracket being provided with a bearing opening for rotatably supportingthe end of the tubular element opposite from said anchoring rod.

3. In a sash balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular element, ananchoring rod constituting a journal member disposed within one end ofsaid tubular element and having a slotted outer end providing segmentaltangs, a coiled spring arranged in said tubular member and having itsends connected to said anchoring rod and tubular element, an attachingbracket provided with segmental slots aligned with said anchoring rod tonon-rotatably receive the said tangs of said anchoring rod, and anattaching bracket rotatably supporting the other end of said tubularmember and constituting a thrust member therefor.

- 4. In a sash balance, the combination of a rotatable tubular elementhaving a spiral track, a tensioning spring disposed within said tubularelementand connected thereto at one end, an anchoring element to whichthe other end of said spring is connected and by which said tubularelement is rotatably mounted, means for nonrotatably securing saidanchoring rod to a sash, and an attaching bracket rotatably supportingthe other'end of said tubular element and provided with a breakable luginitially engaging the tubular element for facilitating the mounting ofthe balance, said lug being breakable upon initial normal rotation ofthetubular element relative to the attaching bracket after installationof the sash balance.

5. In a sash balance construction, a supporting bracket of sheet metalconformed to provide a head portion and a portion integral with the headportion and projecting from an edge thereof for supportingly connectingsaid head portion to a sash, said head portion having opposed spacedparallel slots therethrough, the outer edges of the slots beingcircularly shaped, said slots constituting means for non-rotatablyreceiving correspondingly shaped projecting portions of a springanchoring and journal member of a sash balance.

EDWARD H. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,370,867 Luce Mar, 6, 19452,384,980 Viehweger Sept. 18, 1945

